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By JIM FOX
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 11, 2001
Trade mission seeks more billions in Asia
Prime Minister Jean Chretien's Team Canada trade mission leaves Friday looking for billion-dollar deals abroad.
As the biggest mission of its kind with more than 600 business leaders and educators plus provincial premiers, the 10-day mission will touch down in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The Liberal government and business leaders are looking to expand Canada's $13.9-billion in annual trade with China.
Activists and some members of Parliament are calling on Chretien to raise Canada's concerns about China's crackdown on pro-democracy forces, religious groups and other perceived threats.
The prime minister said he would press Chinese leaders on improving their country's human rights record while he talks trade.
"We always raise the problem of rights abuses . . . the problem is, it is their decision to implement the policies," Chretien said.
The itinerary includes no formal, private meetings with Chinese leaders, but Chretien will talk about "Canadian values" during two major speeches touching on democratic principles, including rule of law.
Canadian health authorities say a Congolese woman on life support in a Hamilton, Ontario, hospital does not have the deadly Ebola or other infectious virus.
Dr. Doug MacPherson said public safety is not threatened but it's not certain the cause of the 32-year-old woman's illness.
The woman arrived in Canada on a visitor's visa last weekend after a flight from Africa via the United States.
Latest test results suggest there's no health risk to about 70 health-care workers who have come in contact with the woman.
An expected 11-percent drop in production at Canada's major auto plants based in Ontario will pull down economic growth this year, Scotiabank said in a report Friday. The province accounts for 42 percent of the overall Canadian economy and the cutbacks are expected to spill over into other sectors.
The Canadian government announced plans Friday for sweeping negotiations on Atlantic native fisheries and other treaty issues, including economic development. Talks on the contentious issues with 34 Indian and aboriginal bands are part of a strategy to address a Supreme Court decision confirming native rights to earn a moderate living from hunting and fishing in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
The Canadian dollar was lower Friday at 66.21 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returned $1.5103.
The key Bank of Canada rate is unchanged at 5.75 percent while the prime lending rate is 7.25 percent.
Stock markets were lower, with the Toronto 300 Index at 8,957 points Friday while the Canadian Venture Exchange index was 3,250 points.
Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 9, 23, 29, 38, 39 and 43; bonus 45. (Feb. 3) 15, 17, 21, 22, 43 and 45; bonus 34.
Energy rebates promised to British Columbia residents remain stalled despite assurances that B.C. Hydro will eventually get most of the $300-million owed to it by two California utilities. Premier Ujjal Dosanj said the windfall revenue from the sale of electricity to ease California's power crisis would be shared with provincial residents coping with higher energy bills.
Observers are calling the Cabinet overhaul by Ontario Conservative Premier Mike Harris a move to the right. Jim Flaherty became finance minister and deputy premier succeeding Ernie Eves, who left for a bank job. Canadian Alliance supporter Tony Clement was assigned to the health portfolio while Elizabeth Witmer moved to environment.
Alberta Education Minister Lyle Oberg says he has no qualms about plans to raid other provinces for schoolteachers. Facing a teacher shortage nationally, Oberg said Alberta would seek to recruit by automatically accepting credentials from other provinces and offering supplemental courses if necessary to meet requirements in Alberta, which pays teachers better than most other provinces.